Saudi Arabia is allegedly working with Iran to broker a deal with the Houthis that would see the Houthis get $1 billion to quit the war. The allegations were released in the Israeli newspaper, Israel Hayom. The Houthis have expanded their attacks on Saudi Arabia. launching six strikes in recent days.
They are also threatening to declare war on Egypt should it aid the Saudis in the war. Their efforts to shut down the Red Sea have not quite materialized, but trade has been slowed, though not significantly.
$1 Billion For Peace? Report Flags A Secret Saudi Deal With Houthis Via Iran– www.ndtv.com
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EXCERPT:
The report by Israel Hayom cites Gulf diplomatic sources and states that the proposal aims to completely halt Houthi strikes on Saudi infrastructure.
The deal was reportedly discussed during a surprise visit by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to Tehran, where Iran offered to act as a regional diplomatic mediator. The report alleged that the Saudi minister carried the $1 billion physically aboard a Hercules military transport aircraft on which he arrived in Tehran.
In an official statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that, “The visit to Tehran by Prince Khalid bin Salman, the defense minister, and representatives of the member states of the Mecca Joint Defence Alliance comes as part of the alliance’s ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions between the parties to the current crisis, encourage dialogue and diplomatic solutions, and support the mediation efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”